WhatsApp Windows Phone beta adds OneDrive message backups

WhatsApp has updated its Windows Phone beta app, adding the ability for users to back up their text messages and media on Microsoft's OneDrive storage service.

The new OneDrive feature (via MSPU) is enabled by going to Settings > Chat and Security > Backup. Users can set up their backups to launch on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, or simply manually. There's also a setting to only allow backups when connected to Wi-Fi. This feature will likely be added to all WhatsApp Windows Phone users in the future.

Sure I am aware of the ramifications but if someone already has your phone they can easily email themselves a plain text file of all your chats already and delete that sent email. Soo yeah, we need feature parity with Android especially since the backup system on WM10 leaves much to be desired when compared to WM6.x.

If the chat is bugged and you have no such option to reply (has happened to me in group chats - had to leave and be re-added only then it started working again) You may need to either wait abit, delete the DM chat and recreate.

Can anyone tell me if I'll be able to open my current chats from the alpha version if I install this one to test the new feature? It'd be incredibly helpful since I'm about to change my phone in the next couple weeks. Thx!

Finally! They actually had this feature (unannounced) back in 2014, before Android or iOS had it, but it wasn't configurable and people were having issues with it and it was eventually removed. Really glad they're bringing it back.

It really depends on the application. There are no 'clear' advantages. Also, it depends on the user.
VLC is an example. I haven't used it much (Win32, UWA) but there are certain advantages that the desktop version has according to the developer.

I couldn't agree more with VLC. UWA is good, the interface and controls are all great but still I feel like it has a long way to go to fully satisfy the experience with the VLC desktop program. UWP have a great potential than a desktop application could ever have, there's no denying that. And when it comes to social messaging platform, you know you want to have a UWA. If WhatsApp wanted to do a desktop version, it would have done it already. This is anyone's time to hit the UWP road. I mean you don't know anything for sure unless you try, right!

@neglkted. There is a desktop installer for the web app... soo yes a UWP app would be pretty interesting to see. I say interesting as the .exe is essentially a web wrapper reliant on your phone as a relay. So the how they approach the whole UWP app prospect will be interesting, if anything they can single handly destroy the Microsofts's messaging any where prospects by having a UWP as it would mean potentially with one number, you could communicate from hololens, xbox 1, any pc running Windows 10 that has the UWP installed. Once you have that would you bother using standard sms anymore? hmm...